After a relatively lackluster showing in a relatively lackluster AT&T Slam Dunk Contest this weekend, Rockets rookie shooting guard Jalen Green is hoping to get another crack at the competition in the years to come, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
“I for sure need a run-back,” Green said. “I messed up.”
In one of the stranger moments of the evening, Green handed Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas, a judge for the contest, a necklace holding a cell phone displaying an NFT, then went on to botch his first eight dunk attempts before finally converting his ninth look, a slick windmill whose impact had been diluted, given that he failed to convert it earlier. Green was quickly eliminated.
There’s more out of the Lone Star State:
- The rebuilding Rockets boast several solid prospects, to the point that the NBA has taken notice, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Rookies Green, Alperen Sengun and Jae’Sean Tate all were honored with selections to the Rising Stars Game on Friday at All-Star Weekend, and Green made an aforementioned (ill-fated) appearance in the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday. “We are having a difficult season,” Sengun said. “We lost a bunch of games. I’ve learned how to stay focused during those lost games. I got a lot of experience.” At 15-43, the Rockets aren’t on track to qualify for the playoffs this season.
- New Rockets reserve point guard Dennis Schröder is bringing his veteran experience and playoff pedigree to bear for a developing young Houston club, opines Kelly Iko of The Athletic. With John Wall inactive, Schröder has helped the Rockets with his speed and his defensive assertiveness, according to Houston head coach Stephen Silas. “(Schröder) adds to our depth, our guard rotation,” the head coach said. “There was actually a point [during the Rockets’ 124-121 loss to the Suns on Thursday that] I tried to take him out of the game, and he was like, ‘Just leave me in, let me see if we can get back into it.’ I like that competitiveness about him.”
- Mavericks All-Star point guard Luka Doncic confirmed that he would enjoy playing with his countryman Goran Dragic, currently a free agent garnering plenty of buzz on the buyout market, but said he’s not pressing the Dallas front office to make a deal with the veteran point guard, writes Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News.
This post sponsored by Bob Marley because Green got absolutely burnt lol “one of the stranger moments of the evening” stop the fight
It was awkward to watch, someone should have told Green to change his dunk after the first two fails. Then it might have been less painful. That, along with JTA and Anthony missing a fair few killed the hype.
In Greens defence though, he was by far the stand out player in the rising stars, to fall out in first round on a Suggs FT miss.
IMO the dunk contest wouldn’t have been that bad if Reggie Miller and D Wades commentary hadn’t made it 10x worse. I love both as players and guys but that was just unprofessional.
The judges felt the same. Not one 50 given out. It was painful to watch.
IMO
Luka and Morant are better players than steph Curry and Chris Paul
I agree
Like to see Schroeder bought out.
He can help a contender.
Jalen Green is so overhyped and has been so disappointing thus far.
Not only being terrible in the dunk contest but shooting 39% from the field and 31% on threes.
Heaps of potential but needs some vets and coaches to lower his confidence a little and make him work harder. Like if John Wall was playing, he would be putting up like 20-10 and busting Jalen ass on and off the court which would actually help him
He has to get stronger to match the physicality of the NBA. Any time someone has a lot of potential and been in the spotlight for years will have hype. I don’t feel like he’s really been “disappointing,” though. He’s barely 20 and we knew he’d have some growing pains to start. He also missed a month of the season. He’s shown flashes. Definitely think he’ll become a great player in time.